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The Mountainy Singer 



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The Mountainy Singer 



By SEOSAMH MacCATHMHAOIL 




BOSTON 

THE FOUR SEAS COMPANY 

I919 



Copyright^ ipip^ by 
The Four Seas Company 



The Four Seas Press 
Boston, Mass., U. S, A. 



JUL 25 1919 

©Ci,A530359 



A Line's A Speech 

A line s a speech; 

So here's a line 

To say this pedlar s pack 

Of mine 

Is not a hook — 

But a journey through 

Mountainy places. 

Ever in view 

Of the sea and the fields. 

With the rough wind 

Blowing over the leagues 

Behind! 



Contents 



I AM THE MOUNT AINY SINGER 1 f 

WHEN ROOKS FLY HOMEWARD 13 

1 SPIN MY GOLDEN WEB 14 

CHERRY VALLEY 15 

DARKNESS 16 

MY FIDIL IS SINGING 17 

THE GOAT-DEALER 18 

WHY CRUSH THE CLARET ROSE 19 
LAMENT OF PADRAIC MOR CRUIMIN OVER HIS SONS 20 

TO A TOWN GIRL 23 

A MARCH MOON 24 

A THOUSAND FEET UP 25 

THE DARK 26 

REYNARDINE 28 

SNOW 29 

I AM THE GILLY OF CHRIST 30 

GO. PLOUGHMAN, PLOUGH 32 

GO. REAPER 33 

THE GOOD PEOPLE 34 
THE STORM IS STILL, THE RAIN HATH CEASED 35 

SCARE-THE-CROWS 36 

A CRADLE-SONG 37^ 

TWINE THE MAZES THRO* AND THRO' 39 

A FIGHTING MAN 40 

MY MOTHER HAS A WEE RED SHOE 42 



BY A WONDROUS MYSTERY 


tagt 

44 


I GATHER THREE EARS OF CORN 


46 


THE TINKERS 


48 


AS I CAME OVER THE GREY, GREY HII I S 


49 


A NORTHERN LOVE-SONG 


50 


TO THE GOLDEN EAGLE 


51 


A PROPHECY 


52 


I MET A WALKING-MAN 


54 


THE NINEPENNY FIDIL 


55 


GRASSLANDS ARE FAIR 


57 


WINTER SONG 


58 


I FOLLOW A STAR 


59 


THE SILENCE OF UNLABOURED FIELDS 


60 


THE BEGGAR'S WAKE 


61 


THE BESOM-MAN 


67 


EVERY SHUILER IS CHRIST 


70 


I WISH AND I WISH 


71 


I AM THE MAN-CHILD 


72 


FRAGMENT 


74 


AT THE WHITENING OF THE DAWN 


75 


WHO ARE MY FRIENDS 


76 


O GLORIOUS CHILD-BEARER 


77 


CORONACH 


78 


TWILIGHT FALLEN 


79 


THE DAWN WHITENESS 


80 


THE DWARF 


81 


I SEE ALL LOVE IN LOWLY THINGS 


83 


TIS PREl lY TAE BE IN BAILE-UOSAN 


84 



fa^e 



CIARAN. MASTER OF HORSES AND LAND 86 

DEEP WAYS AND DRIPPING BOUGHS 87 

NIGHT. AND I TRAVELLING 88 

NIGHT PIECE ®^ 

AT MORNING TIDE 90 

THE MAY-FIRE ^^ 

I LOVE THE DIN OF BEATING DRUMS 93 

THREE COLTS EXERCISING IN A SIX-ACRE 94 

THE NATURAL ^^ 

ON THE TOP-STONE ^ 

THE WOMEN AT THEIR DOORS 97 

MY LITTLE DARK LOVE 99 

I HEARD A PIPER PIPING '^l 

THE CLOUDS GO BY AND BY ^02 

DAVY DAW ^^^ 

BLACK SILE OF THE SILVER EYE '07 

A SHEEPDOG BARKS ON THE MOUNTAIN 109 

DEAD OAKLEAVES EVERYWHERE ^0 

A NIGHT PRAYER ' ' ' 

I AM THE MOUNTAINY SINGER '^2 
THE RAINBOW SPANNING A PLANET SHOWER 113 

I WILL GO WITH MY FATHER A-PLOUGHING 114 

THE SHINING SPACES OF THE SOUTH 1 16 

LIKE A TUFT OF CEANABHAN ' ' 7 

THE HERB-LEECH ^^® 

WHO BUYS LAND ^20 

THE POET LOOSED A WINGED SONG 121 

SIC TRANSIT ^23 



The Mountainy Singer 



/ Am the Momitainy Singer 

I am tke mountamy singer — 
The voice of tne f)easant s aream. 
The cry of the wind on tkc wooded hill, 
Tkc leaf) of tke fisK m tke stream. 



Quiet and love I sing — 
The earn on tke mountain crest, 
Tke cailin in ker lover s arms, 
Tke ckild at its motker s treast. 



Beauty end J)eace I sing — 
Tke Tire on tke of)en keartk, 
Tke cailleack s|)inning at ker wkecl, 
Tke |>lougk in tke broken cartk. 

Travail and t)ain I sing — 
Tke bride on tke ckilding ted, 
Tke dark man laboring at kis rkymes, 
Tke ewe in tke lamting sked. 

Sorrow and deatk I sing — 
Tkc canker come on tke corn. 

11 



TliG fisKer lost m tkc mountain lock, 
The cry at tne moutk of morn. 

No otker life I sing. 

For I am sj)rung of tkc stock 

T kat trokc tkc killy land for tread. 

And built tke nest in tke rock! 



12 



When Rooks Fly 
Homeward 

When rooks fly homewar J 
And skadows fall. 
When roses fold 
On tne kay-yard wall, 
Wken tlmd motks flutter 
By door and tree, 
Tken comes tke quiet 
Of Ckrist to me. 

Wken stars look out 
On tke Ckildren's Patk 
And grey mists gatker 
On cam and ratk, 
W^ken nigkt is one 
W^itk tke brooding sea, 
Tken comes tke quiet 
Qi Ckrist to me. 



13 



/ spin My Golden TFeb 

I sj)in my golden wet in tke sun: 
Tne cherries tremtle, tke ligKt is done. 
A suaaen wind 8weeJ)s over tne bay, 
Ano carries my golden wet away ! 



14 



Cherry Valley 



In Cherry Valley tnc cnernes blow : 
Tkc valley J)atlifi are white as snow. 

Ana in tneir time witn clusters rea 
Tke scented LougKs are crimson* J. 

Even now tke moon is looking tkrougk 
Tke glimmer of tke koney acw. 

A f)etal trembles to tke grass, 
Tke feet of fairies J)as8 and f)ass. 

By them, I Know, all beauty comes 
To mc, a katitan of slums. 

I sing no rune, I say no line: 
Tke gift of second sigkt is mine ! 



15 



Darkness 

Darkness. 

I stop to watck a star skine in tne tog-hole — 
A star no longer, tut a silver ntton of light. 
I look at it, and J)ass on. 



16 



My Fiddle is Singing 

My fid Jle IS singing 
Into tke air ; 
Tne wind is stirring. 
The moon is fair. 

A snaaow wanders 
Along tke road; 
It stoJ)s to listen. 
And droJ>s its load. 

Dreams for a st)ace 
Uf)on tke moon, 
1 ken J)asses, kumming 
My mountain tune. 



17 



The Goat Dealer 

Did you see tke goat- dealer 
All in nis jacket-green f 
I met nim on the rocky roaa 
Twixt tkis and Baile-doinn. 
A hundred nannies ran before, 
And a ske-ass tekmd, 
Tken tke old wanderer kimself. 
Burnt red witk sun and wind. 
He gave me tke time-a-day 
And doitered over tke kill, 
\Vallot)ing kis gay askf)lant 
And skoutmg kis fill. 

I tkmk I kear kim yet, 
Tko it s a giant s cry 
From wkere I kailed kim first. 
Standing uj) to tke sky. 

Is tkat Puck Green I see beyond? 
It is, and tke stir is tkere. 
By tke koly kat, I know tken — 
He s making for Puck Fair ! 

18 



Why Crush the Claret Rose 

W^ky crusk tke claret rose 

Tkat blows 

So rarely on tke tree? 

AVkerefore tke enmity, dear girl. 

Betwixt tke rose ana tkee? 

Art tkou not fair cnougk 

Witk tkat dark teauty given tkec 

Tkat tkou must crusk tke rose 

Tkat dIows 

oo rarely on tke tree! 



19 



Lament of Padraic Mor 
mac Cruimin over his Sons 

I am Padraic Mor mac Cruimm, 
Son of Domnnall of tne Skroua. 
riper, like my kind before me. 
To tke nousekold of Macleod. 

Deatk is m tke seed of Cruimin — 
AH my music is a wail ; 
Early graves await tke f)oets 
And tke t)ij)crs of tke Gael. 

Samkam gleans tke golden karvests 
Duly in tkeir tide and time. 
But my tody s fruit is blasted 
Barely J)ast tke Bealtem J>rime. 

Cetklenn claims tke fairest figkters 
Fitly for ker own, ker own, 
But my seven sons are stricken 
Vv kere no battle-J)iJ)e is tlown. 

Flowers of tke forest fallen 
On tke sliding summer stream — 

20 



Ligkt and life and love are witK me^ 
Then are vaniskeJ into dream. 

Berried Lranckes of tke rowan 
Rifled m tke wizard wind — 
Clan and generation leave me, 
Lonely on tke keatk bekmd. 

Wko will sootke a fatker s sorrow 
AVken kis seven sons are gone? 
Vv ko will watck kim in kis sleef)ing T 
Wko will wake kim at tke dawn? 

Seven sons are taken from me 
In tke comJ)ass of a year ; 
Every Lone is Lose w^itkm me. 
All my Llood is wkite witk fear. 

Seven youtks of Lrawn and Leauty 
Moulder in tkeir mountain Led, 
\Jp in storied Inis-Scatkack 
vVkere tkeir fatkers reaj)ed tkeir Lread.^ 

Nevermore uf)on tke mountain. 
Nevermore m fair or field, 



21 



Shall ye see tke seven ckamJ)ion8 
Of the silver-mantled sniela. 

I will |>lay tke "Cumhadh na Cloinne, 
Wildest of tke rowtk of tunes 
Gratkerea ty tke love of mortal 
rrom tke olaen aruia runes. 

Wail ye ! Nigkt is on tke water ; 
Wind, ana wave are roaring loud — 
Caotne for tke fallen ckildren 
vji tke pipQT of MacLeod. 



22 



To A Town Girl 

Violet mystery. 
Ringleted gold. 
WKiteness of whiteness, 
Wkerefore so cold? 

Silent you sit there — 
Sj)irit and mould — 
Darkening the dream 
That must never oe told! 



23 



A March Moon 

A Marck moon 
Over tke mountain crest 
Ceanabhan Llowmg: 
Her neck and treast. 

Arbutus berries 
On tke tree kead; 
Her moutk of t)assion. 
Dewy anJ red. 

Cold as cold 
And kot as kot, 
Ske loves me .... 
And ske loves me not ! 



24 



A Thousand Feet Up 

A thousand feet up : twilight. 
Westwards, a elumj) of nr-trees silhouetted 

against a bank of blue cumulus cloud ; 
The June afterglow^ like a sea benind. 
TKe mountain trail, wkite and clear wkere human 

feet kave worn it, zigzagging higher and nigner 

till it loses itself m tke soutkern skyline. 
A patch, of young corn to my ngkt kand, swaying 

and swaying continuously, tko kardly an air stirs. 
A falcon w^keelmg overkead. 
Tke moon rising. 
Tke damf) smell of tke nigkt m my nostrils. 

hills. O kills. 

To you I lift mine eyes ! 

1 kneel down and kiss tke grass under my feet. 

Tke sense of tke mystery and infinity of tkings over- 

wkelms me, annikilates me almost. 
I kneel dow^n, and silently vrorskif). 



25 



The Dark 



Tkis IS tnc dark. 

Tkis 18 tke dream tkat came of tke dark. 

Tkis IS tke dreamer wko dreamed tke dream 
tkat came of tke dark. 

Tkis IS tke look tke dreamer looked wko 
dreamed tke dream tkat came of tke dark. 

Tkis IS tke love tkat followed tke look tke 
dreamer looked wko dreamed tke dream tkat 
came of tke dark. 

Tkis IS tke breast tkat fired tke love tkat 
followed tke look tke dreamer looked wko 
dreamed tke dream tkat came of tke dark. 

Tkis IS tke song was made to tke treast tkat 
fired tke love tkat followed tke look tke 
dreamer looked wko dreamed tke dream tkat 
came of tke dark. 

Tkis IS tke sword tkat tracked tke song was 
made to tke treast tkat fired tke love tkat 



26 



followed tke look tke dreamGr looleJ wlro 
dreamed tne dream tnat came of the dark. 

This IS tke rof>e tnat swung the sword tkat 
tracked tke song was made to tke breast 
tkat fired tke love tkat followed tke look tke 
dreamer looked wko dreamed tke dream tkat 
came of tke dark. 

Tkis is tke dark tkat buried tke roJ)e tkat 
flw^ung tke sw^ord tkat tracked tke song was 
made to tke breast tkat fired tke love tkat 
follow^ed tke look tke dreamer looked w^ko 
dreamed tke dream tkat came of tke dark. 

jTkis IS tke dark, indeed! 



27 



Reynardine 

Ii Dy chance you look for me 
PerkaJ)8 you'll not me find. 
For I ll te in my castle — 
Enquire for Reynardine! 

Sun and dark Ke courted me — 
His eyes were red as wine: 
He took me for kis leman. 
Did my sweet Reynardine. 

Sun and dark tke gay korn tlows. 
Tke teagles run like wind: 
T key know not where ke kartours, 
Tke fairy Reynardine. 

If by ckance you look for me 
Perka|)s you 11 not me find. 
For I 11 tc in my castle — 
Enquire for Reynardine! 



28 



Snow 

riills tkat were dark 
At 8j)aring-time last nigKt 
Now m tke dawn-ring 
Glimmer cold and wkite. 



29 



I am the Gilly of Christ 

I am tlie gilly of Ckrist, 
Tke mate of Mary s Son ; 
I run the roaas at seeding time. 
And wlien tke karvest s done. 

I slec|) among tke kills, 
Tke kcatker is my ked; 
I dif) tke termon-well for drink. 
And {)ull tke sloe for oread. 

No eye kas ever seen me. 
But skej)kerds kear me Jpass, 
Singing at fall of even 
Along tke skadowed grcss. 

Tke beetle is my bellman, 
Tke meadow-nre my guide, 
Tke tee and Lat my ambling nags 
AVken I kave need to ride. 

All know me only tke Stranger, 
Wko sits on tke Saxon s kcigkt ; 

30 



He burned the bacach s little nouse 
On last Saint Brigid s Nigkt. 

He su|)S off silver disKes, 
And drinks in a golden horn. 
But lie will wate a wiser man 
\Jpon the Judgment Morn ! 

I am tke GiUy of Ckrist, 
TKe mate of Mary s Son ; 
I run tne roads at seeding time. 
And wken the Karvest s done. 

TKe seed I sow is lucky, 

Tne corn I reaj) is red. 

And whoso sings tke Gill s Rann 

>Ar ill never cry for bread. 



31 



Go J Ploughmatiy Plough 

Go, t)lougliman, J)lougn 

Tke mearing lanas, 

Tke meadow lands, 

Tke mountain lands: 

All life IS tare 

Beneatk your skarc. 

All love IS m your lusty kands. 

Uj), korses, now ! 

And straigkt and true 

Let every broken furrow run ; 

Tke etrengtk you sweat 

Skall tlossom yet 

In golden glory to tke sun. 



32 



Go^ Reaper 

Cjo, rca|)er, 
\:i^QQa and rea|). 
Go take tke karvcst 
Of tke l)IougK : 
The wKeat is standing 
Broad and deej). 
The Larley glumes 
Arc golden now. 

Lator is kard. 

But it endures 

Like love : 

1 ke land is yours : 

Go reaf) tke life 

It gives you now, 

O suntrowned master 

Oi tke t>lougk ! 



33 



The Good People 

Tke millway J)atli looks like a wraith, 
Tne lock is black as ink. 
And silently m stream anJ sky 
Tke stars tegm to blink. 

I see tkem l)ass along the grass 
Witn slow ana solemn tread: 
Aoitkeall, tneir queen, is in octween— - 
A corpse IS at their neaa ! 

TKey wander on witn faces wan. 
And dirges sad as wind. 
I know not, tut it may te tnat 
Tke dead *s of kuman kind. 



34 



The Storm is Stilly 
The Rain hath Ceased 

Tnc storm is still, the ram natn ceaseJ 
To vex the beauty of tne east : 
A linnet signeth in tke wood 
His kermit song of gratitude. 

So snail I sing when life is done 
To greet the glory of the sun; 
And cloud and star and stream and sea 
Snail dance for very ecstasy ! 



35 



Scare-the- Crows 

Two|)ence a day for scaring crows — 
Tno tne ram beats ana tne wind blows ! 

TKe sckolars tkmk I ve little wit. 
But, God ! I ve got my skare of it. 

Wny does tne gorbing land-shark 
Leave ^lougned rigs for the green ^ark? 

^Vnere little s to find, and notkmg s to eat 
But rattits dro|)t)ing8 and t)keasants meat. 

He know^s Letter tkan come my w^ay 
Between tke moutk and tke tail of day. 

For one lick of my kurding w^attle 

Would lay kim out like a skowman s bottle ! 

And tke tkougkts tkat rise in my crazed kead 
Wken tke cloud is low and tke wind s dead. 

Wkere you see only clay and stones 
I see sw^ords and blancking bones 

But I 11 leave you now, — it s gone six. 
And tke smoke is curling over tke ricks. 

And it s kardly like tkat tke land-skark 
Will trouble tke furrows after dark. 



36 



A Cradle Song 



SleeJ). wnite love, sleej), 

A ceaarn craale nolas thee. 

Ana twilignt, like a silver-woven coverlid, 

Eniolas thee. 

Moon ana star Keef) charmea watcn 

Uf)on thy lying ; 

Water f)lovers tnro tne dusk 

Are tremulously crying. 

Sleef), white love mine. 

Till day dotk skme. 

SleeJ), white love, sleef), 

Tne daylignt wanes, and deej)er 

Gatkers tke Llue darkness 

O er tke cradle of tke sleeker. 

Cliodkna s curacks, carmme-oared. 

On Lock-da-lmn are gleaming ; 

Blind tats flutter tkro tke nigkt. 

And carrion birds are screaming. 

Slee^, wkite love mine. 

Till day dotk skme. 

37 



SleeJ), white love, slecj), 

Tke koly motkers, Anne ana Mary. 

Sit kigk in keaven, Jreammg 

On tke seven ends oi Eire, 

Brigid sits tesiJe tkem, 

Sf)inning lamk-wkitc wool on wkorls. 

Singing fragrant songs of love 

To little naked toys an<J girls. 

Slee^, wkite love mine. 

Till day dotk skme. 



38 



Twine the Mazes thro" 
and thro' 

Twine tKe mazes tkro and tkro' 
Over Deaen ana margent J)ale; 
i>ot a Dawn af)|)ears in view. 
Not a sail ! 

Round about! 
In and out ! 

Tkro tke stones and sandy tars 
To tke music of tke stars ! 
Tke astcroidal nre tkat dances 
Nigktly in tke nortkern tlue, 
Tke tngktest of tke Loreal lances. 
Dances not so ligkt as you, 

Cliodkna ! 
Dances not so ligkt as you. 



39 



A Fighting-Man 

A figkting-man Kg was. 
Guts and soul ; 
His Llood was not ana red 
As tkat on Cains kand-towel. 

A cot)^er-skinned six-footer. 
Hewn out of tne rock. 
Wko would stand u^ against 
His kammcr-knockr 

Not a sinner — 
No, and not one dared ! 
Giants skow^ed clean keels 
Vv ken kis arm w^as oared. 

I ve seen kim swing an anvil 
Fifty feet. 

Break a tougk m two. 
And tear a twisted skeet. 

And tke music of kis roar- 
Like oaks m tkunder cleaving 

40 



Ltips foaming re J froth. 
Ana nanls heaving. 

God ! a goodly man, 

A Gael, tke last 

Of those that stood with Dan 

On Mullach-Maist ! 



41 



My Mother has a TVee 
Red Shoe 

My motkcr kas a wgg reJ sKoe — 

^\Q. bought it on a bacecn-man ; 
And all tke neightors say it s true 
He stole it off a Leatk-trogan. 

Bacack-man, bacack-man, 
Wkere did you get it? 
F aitk now, says ke. 
In my leatker wallet ! 



My latker kas an arrow^-kead — 

He Legged it off ^oor Peig na Blatk ; 

And Mor, tke tal king-woman, said 

Ske found it in a fairy ratk. 

Peig na Blatk, Peig na Blatk, 
Wkere did you get it ? 
Faitk now, said ske. 
In my wincey jacket! 



42 



My brotncr lias a coJ)J)er f)ot — 
He tryst it wi a snuiler-man ; 
And gossif) says it s like as not 
He truii a it from a CloDnair-ceann. 
Snuiler-man, snuiler-inan, 
Wkere did you get it? 
FaitK now, says ke. 
In my Dreecnes {)ocKet ! 



43 



By a Wondrous Mystery 

By a wonarous mystery 
Christ of Mary s fair tody 
Uj)on a middle winter s morn. 
Between tne tides of night and day. 
In Ara s koly isle was torn. 
Mary w^ent uJ)on ner knee 
Travailing in ecstasy. 
And Brigid, mistress of tte tirth. 
Full reverently and tenderly 
Laid tke ckild uJ)on tke earth. 
TKen tke dark-eyed rose did tlow. 
And rivers leaf)ed from out tke snow. 
Eartk grew^ lyrical : tke grass. 
As tke ligkt winds ckanced to t)ass — 
Tkan magian music more J)rofound — 
Murmured m a maze of sound. 
Wkite incense rose ut)on tke kills 
As from a tkousend tkuritles. 
And m tke east a seven-rayed star 
Proclaimed tke news to near and far. 



44 



Tke 8lie;^lier<J JanceJ, tlie gilly ran, 
Tkc toatman left kis curacnan; 
The King came riamg on the wind 
To ojffcr gifts of com an J kind; 
Tke druid drof)J)e(l kis ogkam wand, 
And said, **Anotker day s at kand, 
J\ newer daw^n is in tke sky: 
I put my witkered sa|>ling by. 
Tke druid Ckrist kas taken treatk 
To sing tke runes of life and deatk. 



45 



/ Gather Three Ears 
of Corn 

I gatker tkree ears of corn. 

And tke Black Earl from over tke sea 

Sails across m kis silver skit)S, 

And takes two out of tke tkree. 

I migkt tuild a kouse on tke kill 
And a Larn of tke s|)eckly stone. 
And tell my little stocking of gold. 
If tke Earl would let me alone. 

But ke kas no tkougkt for me — 
Only tke tkougkt of kis skare. 
And tke softness of tke Imsey skifts 
His lazy daugkters wear. 

Tkere is a God in keaven. 

And angels, score on score, 

Wko will not sec my keartkstone cold 

Because I m crazed and f)Oor. 

46 



My childer nave my blood. 
And wKen tkey get tlieir teards 
Tkcy will not te content to run 
As gillics to their nerds! 

Tnc day will come, maybe, 
v» hen we can have our own. 
And the Black Earl will come to us 
Begging tke tacack s tone. 



47 



The Tinkers 

"One ciarog Knows another ciarog^ 
And wky sliouldn t Itnow you, you rogue? 
"Tkey say a stroller will never f)air 
Except witli one of kis Imd and care . . . 
So talked two tinkers Jjrone m tke skougk — 
And tken, as tke fun got a trifle rougk, 
Tkey flitted: ke witk kis corn-straw bass, 
oke witk ker load of tin and brass : 
As mad a matck as you w^ovild see 
In a twelvemontk s ride tkro Ckristendie. 
He roared — tkey totk were drunk as kell : 
Ske danced, and danced it migkty well ! 
I could kavc eyed tkem longer, out 
Tkey staggered for tke Quarry Cut : 
1 kat kalf-J)erck seemed to trouble tkem more 
Tkan all tke leagues tkey d tramj)ed before. 
Some 11 drink at tke fair tke morrow. 
And some Jl suj) witk tke sJ)oon of sorrow; 
But wketker they 'II get as far as Droickid 
Tke nigkt — well, wko knows tkat tut God ? 

48 



As I Came Over the Grey^ 
Grey Hills 

As I came over tne grey, grey kills 

Ana over tne grey, grey water, 

I saw tke gilly leading on. 

Ana tne wnite Cnrist lollow^mg after. 

Wnere ana where does tne giUy lead? 
And where is the w^nite Cnrist faring? 
Tney ve travelled the four grey sounds of Ore, 
And the four grey seas of Eirinn. 

Tke moon it set and tke wind s away. 
And tke song m tke grass is dying. 
And a silver cloud on tke silent sea 
Like a skroudmg skeet is lying. 

But Ckrist and tke gilly will follow on 
Till tke ring m tke east is skowmg, 
And tke awny corn is red on tke kills. 
And tke golden ligkt is glowing! 



49 



A Northern Love- Song 

Brigi Jm Ban of the Imt-wnite locks, 
^Vkat was it gave you that naxen nair. 
Long as tke summer neath m tne rocks? 
Wkat w^as it gave you those eyes of nre, 
Lit)S so waxen and cneek so wan? 
Tell me, tell me, Brigidin Ban. 
Little wkite tride of my keart s desire. 

Was it tke Good Pcof>le stole you away. 
Little wkite skangelmg, Brigidin Ban? 
Carried you off m tke ring of tke daw^n. 
Laid like a queen on kcr f)ur|)le car. 
Carried you tack twixt tke nigkt and tke day 
Gave you tkat fortune of naxen kair. 
Gave you tkose eyes of wandering nre. 
Lit at tke wkeel of tke soutkern star ; 
Gave you tkat look so far aw^ay, 
LiJ) so waxen and ckeek so w^an? 
Tell me, tell me, Brigidm Ban, 
Little wkite tride of my keart s desire. 

50 



To The Golden Ragle 

Wanderer or the mountain. 
Winger of tkc tlue. 
From tkis stormy rock 
I send my love to you. 

Take me for your lover. 
Dark and nerce and true — 
Wanderer ox tne mountain. 
Winger of tke tlue ! 



51 



A Prophecy 

"Tke loins of tke GalldacKt 
Onal] witner like grass — 
Strange words I Keard said 
At the fair of Dun-eas. 

**A Lard snail te torn 
Of tke seed of tke folic. 
To kreak witk kis smgmg 
T. ke kond and tke yoke. 

**A sword, wkite as askes, 
okall fall from tke sky. 
To rise, red as klood. 
On tke ckarge and tke cry. 

"Stark J)if)ers skall klow. 
Stout drummers skall Leat, 
And tke skout of tke nortk 
okall ke keard m tke street. 

* 1 ke strong skall go down. 
And tke weak skall J)revail, 

52 



And a glory skall sit 

On tke sign of tke Gaodkal. 

"Then Emer sKall come 
In good time ty Ker own. 
And a man of the people 
Shall speah from tke tKrone." 

Strange words I keard said 
At tke Fair of Dun-eas— 
"Tke Gaodkaldackt skall live, 
Tke Galldackt skall passr 



53 



/ Met a JValking-Man 

I met a walking-man; 

His liead was old and grey. 

I gave Kim wkat I naa 

To crutck liim on Kis way. 

Tke man was Mary's Son, I 11 swear; 

A glory tremtled in kis kair! 

And since tkat tlessed day 

I ve never known tke f)inck: 

I t)lougk a broad townland. 

And dig a river-inck ; 

And on my keartk tke fire is trigkt 

For all tkat walk ty day or nigkt. 



54 



The Ninepenny Fidil 

My latner and motker were IrisK, 

And I am IrisK too ; 

I bought a wee fidil for nine|)enee. 

And it IS Irisk, too. 

1 m u^ m the morning early 

To meet the dawn of day. 

And to the lintwkite's f)if)ing 

Tne many 's tke tune I f)lay. 

One J)leasant eve in June time 
1 met a lochrie-man: 
Mis face and hands were weazen. 
His keight was not a sj)an. 
He boor d me for my fidil — 
1 ou know, says Ke, "like you. 
My fatner and motker were Irisk, 
And I am Irisk, tool' 

He took my wee red fidil. 
And suck a tunc ke turned — 
Tke Glaise m it wkisf)ered, 

55 



Tne Lionan in it m urned. 

Says he, "My laa, you re lucty — 

I wisn t I was like you : 

You re lucky m your birtn-star. 

And m your fidil, too! 

He gave me tack my fidil. 

My nail-stick, also. 

Ana ste|)f)ing like a mayboy, 

He jum{)ea the Leargaiah Knowe. 

I never saw nim after. 

Nor met kis gentle kind; 

But, wkiles, I tnmk I kear kim 

A-w^neenmg in tne wind ! 

My fatker and mother were Irisli, 

And I am Irish, too; 

I bought a w^ee ndil for ninef)ence. 

And it is IrisK, too. 

I m up m tne morning early 

To meet tke dawn of day. 

And to tne Imtwhite s f)ij)ing 

The many s the tvme I J)lay. 

56 



Grasslands Are Fair 

Grasslanas are fair, 
Plougklands are rare. 
Grasslanas are lonely, 
Ploughlanas are comely. 
Grasslanas breed cattle, 
Plougklands feed f)eof)le. 
Grasslanas are not wrougnt, 
Plougklands swell witK tkougkt. 



57 



Winter Song 

Twoula skin a fairy 

It IS so airy. 

And tlie snow it nit)S so cold: 

one^nera ana squire 

Sit ty tke fire, 

Tne sneej) are m tne fold. 

You nave your wisn — 

A reeking disn. 

And ruDDic walls about ; 

bo J)ity tne J)oor 

That kave no door 

To keej) tke winter out! 



58 



/ Follow a Star 

1 follow a star 

Burning deef) in tKe tlue. 

A sign on tKe kills 

L/it for me ana for you! 

Moon-red is tKe star, 
Halo-rmged like a rood, 
Cnrist s heart in its heart set. 
Streaming witk Llood. 

Follow tke gilly 

Beyond to the west: 

He leads wKere tke Ckrist lies 

On Mary s wkite breast. 

King, {)riest and J)ro|)ket — 
A ckild, and no more — 
Adonai tke Maker! 
Come, let us adore. 



59 



The Silence of Unlaboured 
Fields 

The silence oi unlaDourea nelas 
Lies like a jviagment on tne air : 
A numan voice is never neara: 
The signing grass is everywhere — 
Tke sigkmg grass, tke sKadowed sky, 
Tne cattle crying wearily! 

Where are the lowland J)eof>le gone ? 
Wnere are tke sun-dark faces now? 
Tke love tkat kef)t tke quiet keartk, 
Tke strengtk tkat keld tke sf)eeding f)lougk; 
Grasslands and low^mg kerds are good. 
But tetter kuman flesk and tlood ! 



60 



The Beggar's Wake 

I watclied at a Leggar s wate 

In tke kills of Bearna-tarr, 

And tke old men were telling stones 

Of Troy and tke Trojan war. 

And a nickering fire of tog-deal 
Burned on tke oJ)en keartk. 
And tke nigkt-wmd roared m tke ckimney, 
And darkness was over tke eartk. 

And Tearlack Ban MacGiolla, 
Tke {)i^er of Gort, was tkere. 
And ke sat and ke dreamed aj)art 
In tke arms of a sugan ckair. 

And sudden ke woke from kis dream 
Like a dream-frigktened ckild. 
And kis lif)s were f)ale and trembling. 
And kis eyes were wild. 

61 



And Ke stood straigkt up, and ke cried, 
Witk a wave of Kis witnered nand, 
** Tke days of tke grast)ing stranger 
Skall be few in tne land ! 



** Tke scrij) of kis doom is written. 
Tke tkread of kis skroud is sj)un ; 
Tke net of kis strengtk is trokcn, 
Tke tide of kis life is run. 



Tken ke sank to kis seat like a stone. 
And tke watckers stared agkast. 
And tkey crossed tkemselves for fear 
As tke comn cart went past. 



** At tke tattle of Gleann-muic-duiLk 
Tke fate tke poets foretold 
Skall fall on tke neck of tke stranger. 
And redden tke sj)lasky mould. 

62 



** The bagmen carry tke story 
The circuit of Ireland round. 
And they sing it at fair and hurling 
From Edair to Acaill Sound. 

** And the folk repeat it over 
Atout the winter fires. 
Till the heart of each one listening 
Is burning with fierce desires. 

** In the Glen of the Bristleless Boar 
They say the battle shall be. 
Where Breiffne s iron mountains 
Look on the Western sea. 

** In the Glen of the Pig of Diarmad. 
On Gulban s hither side. 
The battle shall be broken 
About the Samhain tide. 

** Forth from the ancient hills. 
With war-cries strident and loud. 
The t)eoJ>le shall march at daybreak. 
Massed in a clamorous crowd. 

63 



'* W&T'p'ipes skall scream and cry. 
And tattle-banners sKall wave. 
AnJ every stone on Gxilban 
Skall mark a kero s grave. 

** Tke Korses sliall wade to tneir noughs 
In rivers oi smoking blooa, 
Ckargmg tkro lieat)S of corJ)ses 
Scattered in wkmny and wood. 

** Tke girtks skall rot from tkeir tellies 
After tke tattle is done. 
For lack of a kand to undo tkem 
And kide tkem out of tke sun. 

** It skall not te tke tattle 
Between tke folk and tke Sidke 
At tke raf)e of a tride from ker ted 
Or a tate from its motker s knee. 

** It skall not te tke tattle 
Between tke wkite kosts nymg 
And tke skrieking devils of kell 
For a f)riest at tke t)oint of dying. 

64 



** It skall not be m the tattle 
Between tke sun and tke leaves. 
Between the winter and summer. 
Between tke storm and tke skcaves. 

" But a tattle to doom and death 
Between tke Gael and tke Gall, 
Between tke sword of ligkt 
And tke skield of darkness and tkrall. 

** And tke Gael skall kave tke mastery 
After a montk of days. 
And tke lakes of tke west skall cry. 
And tke kills of tke nortk skall klaze. 

** And tke neck of tke fair-kaired Gall 
Skall te as a stool for tke feet 
Of Ciaran, ckief of tke Gael, 
Sitting m Emer s seat ! — 



65 



At tkis MacGioUa fainted. 

Tearing his yellow hair. 

And tke young men cursed tke stranger. 

And tke old men mouthed a t)rayer. 

For tney knew tke day would come, 
As sure as tke t)ij)er said, 
^/ken many loves would te p&rtei. 
And many graves would be red. 

And tke wake broke uj^ m tumult. 
And tke women were left alone. 
Keening over tke beggar 
Tkat died at Gobnat s Stone. 



66 



The Besom-Man 



Did you see Paidin, 
Paidin, tKe tesom-man. 
Last nigKt as you came ty 
Over tke mountain ? 

A tartk of new KeatKer 
He tore on kis shouUer, 
An J a tun die of wkitlow-grass 
UnJer his oxter. 

I s{>ied tim as ne {>assea 
Beyond tlie cam head. 
But no eye saw nim 
At tke kill foot after. 

Wkat kas come over kim ? 
Tke women are saying. 
Wkat can kave crossed 
Paidin. tke tesom-man ? 

67 



Tke togkoles he knew 
As tke curlews know them. 
And tke rattits fjads. 
And tke derelict quarries. 

He was kummmg a tune — 
Tke ** Enckanted Valley 
As ke f)assed me westward 
Beyond tke earn. 

I stood and I listened. 
For kis singing was strange 
It rang in my ears 
Tke long nigkt after. 

Wkat kas come over 
Paidm, tke tesom-man ? 
Wkat can kave crossed kim 
Tke women kee|) saying. 

Tkey talk of tke fairies — 
And, God forgive me, 
Paidin knew them 
Like kis t)rayers ! 

68 



Will you fetck word 
yJp to the cross-roads 
If you see track of kim. 
Living or dead ? 

The boys are loafing 
Without game or caj)er ; 

And tke dark f)ij)er 

Is gone Kome witk tlie Lirds. 



69 



Every Shuiler 
is Christ 

Every shuiler is Christ. 
Then te not liar J or colJ : 
The Lit that goes for Christ 
Will come a hunJreJ-fold. 

The ear viJ)on your corn 
Will hurst hefore its time ; 
Your roots will yield a cro^ 
Without manure or lime. 

And every su^ you give 
To crutch him on his way 
Will fill your churn with milh, 
And chohe your tarn with hay. 

Then when the shuiler begs. 
Be neither hard nor cold ; 
The share that' goes for Christ 
Will come a hundred-fold. 

70 



/ Wish and 
I Wish 

I wisk and I wisk 
And I wisn I were 
A golden Lee 
In tKe blue of tke air. 
Winging my way 
At tke moutk of day 
To tke koney marges 
Of L<ock-ciuin-ban ; 
Or a little green drake. 
Or a silver swan. 
Floating ut>on 
Tke stream of Aili, 
And I to Le swimming 
Gaily, gaily ! 



71 



/ Am the Man- Child 

1 am tne man-cnila. From a virgin womt. 

Begot among tKe hills of virgin loins, 

Tne generation of a Kundred kings, 

1 come. 1 am tne man-cnila glorious, 

Tke love-son of tke seconJ Lirtk foretold 

By western tards, tke fruit of form and strength 

By nature s J)rot)nylactic foretkought joined 

In marriage witk tkeir kind, tke crown, tke J)eak, 

Tke summit of tke sckeme of tkmgs, tke j[)ride 

And glory of tke kand of God. 

Bekold ! 
Wkere m tke sj)aces of tke morning world 
1 ke sunrise skmes my karbinger, tke kills 
JLeaJ) uf), tke young winds sing, tke rivers dance, 
1 ke leaving forests laugk, tke eagles scream ; 
For I am one of tkem, a mate, a trotker. 
Bound by nature to tke kuman soul 
1 kat tkro tke accidents of nature runs. 
And wkerefore do tkey lea^ and laugk and smg. 
And dance like vestals on a kolyday ? 

72 



Because their hearts are glad, and mfflnad-like. 
They fam would share the frenzied cu^ they drink 
With me, the man-child glorious. 

I am he. 
Even he, the master-mould, the jparagon ! 
Behold me m my nonage, child and man : 
The rif)est graf)e on beauty s |)rocreant vine. 
The reddest af)J)le of ingathering : 
Perfect m form, of f>eerless strength, and free 
As Caoilte when he roamed the f)rimal hills 
(Those ** w^ildernesses rich with liberty ), 
A hero that the shocks of chance might strike. 
But never tame, a giant druid-ringed, 
A god-like savage of the golden days 
Ere service shackled action : free itself 
As Oism when he strayed m Doire-cairn, 
His hand uf)on the mountain tof), his feet 
Fixt m the flowing sea, his holy head 
Crowned ty a night of birds, acclaiming him 
The singer of the dawn. 



73 



Fragment 



I stand uJ)on tlie summit now : 
Tke falcon, flying from tne heath. 
Trails dartly o cr tke mountain trow 
And <iro|>s into tke gloom teneatk. 
Nigkt falls, and witk it comes tke wind 
Tkat tlew on Fionn time out of mmd, 
Wken weary of love-feasts and wars 
He left kis comrades all oekind 
To dream u{)on tke quiet stars. 
Here on tke lonely mountain keigkt 
Is ecstasy and living ligkt — 
Tke living inner ligkt tkat burns 
Witk magic caugkt from tkose wkite urns 
Tkat wander tkro' tke trackless Llue 
Forever, touckmg tkose tkey know 
Witk teauty, and tke tkings tkat come 
Of teauty. Eartk lies at my feet, 
A dumt, vast skadow. vast as dumk. 



74 



At the Whitening 
of the Dawn 

At tKe wliitening of tke Jawn. 

As I came o er tne wmay water, 

I saw tke salmon-fisker s daugkter, 

Nuala ni Cnolumain. 

Nuala ni Cliolumain, 
Nuala ni Ckolumain, 
Palest lily of the dawn 
Is Nuala ni Cnolumain. 

In the dark of evendown 

I went o er tlie quiet water. 

Dreaming of tne fisner s daugnter 

And ker totky in tke town. 

And I made tkis simple rann 
Ere tke wkitening of tke dawn. 
Singing to tke beauty wan 
Of Nuala ni Ckolumam. 



75 



Who Are My Friends 

Wno are my in ends, 
raitniul ana true ? 
Wko but tke stars 
That turn m tke Llue. 

Wko Lut tke sun 
Tkat sinketk so red, 
Wko but tke clay 
Tkat givetk me bread. 

Wko but tke kills. 
Wko but tke sea, 
Wko but tke nowers 
Tkat fold on tke tree. 

W^ko but tke motks 
Tkat nutter and f)ass, 
Wko but tke lambs 
Tkat cry in tke grass. 

Wko but tke darkness, 

Wko but tke ram, 

W^ko but tke grave, tke grave — 

A.11 else are vam ! 

All else are vain ! 

76 



O Glorious Childbearer 

O glorious cKildLearer. 

O secret womb, 

O gilded bridecnamber, from which hath come the 

sightly Bridegroom forth, 
O amber veil, 

Tnou sittest m heaven, the wnite love of the Gael. 
Thy head is crowned with stars, tny radiant hair 
Snines like a river tnro tne twilight air; 
Tkou walkest ty trodden ways and trackless seas. 
Immaculate of man s infirmities. 



77 



Coronach 

Come, t)ij)es, sound 

A crooning coronack round. 

Till Kill and hollow glen and skadowed lake o erflow 

Witk welling music or our woe. 

Beat, beat, yc muiied drums, ye drones and ckanters 

wail, 
Witk kearttreak of tke baffled, tattle-troken Gael. 
Tke clay is dee^ on Ireland s breast : 
Her f)roud and bleeding keart is laid at last to rest. 
To rest , . to rest ! 



78 



Twilight Fallen 



Twiligkt fallen wKite and cold. 
Child m cradle, lamL m jfold ; 
Glimmering tkro tlie gkostly trees, 
Gremini and Pleiades. 

Wounds of Eloim, 

Wee|) on me ! 

Black-wmged vamf)ires nittmg by. 
Curlews crying m the sky ; 
Grey mists wreatking from tke ground, 
Wra^J)ing ratk and Lurial mound. 

Wounds of Eloim, 

W^eef) on me ! 

Heard, like some sad Gaelic strain, 
Ocean s ancient voice m {)ain ; 
Darkness folding kill and wood, 
Sorrow^ drinking at my blood, 

W^ounds of Eloim, 

Weef) on me ! 

79 



The Dawn Whiteness 

Tne dawn whiteness. 

A bant of slate-grey cloud lying keavily 

over it. 
The moon, like a hunted tiling, droJ)t)ing 

into the cloud. 



80 



The Dwarf 



Look at kim now, the son. 
And tKe cliurcliyard twist m nis foot. 
Standing tkere Ly nis mother s aoor. 
As if ke kad taken root! 

Ske crossed a grave, tkey say. 

On a black Lay m s|)ring. 

And Lore kim m tke seventk montk — 

A t>oor, misskat)en tkmg. 

Kneeling down in tke dark 
Ske travailed witkout a cry. 
And gave kim tke motkering kiss 
Between tke eartk and tke sky. 

He licks cuckoo-st>ittle, tkey say. 
And eats tke dung of tke roads. 
Mocking tke journeymen 
As tkey t)ass by witk tkeir loads. 

81 



Look at kis little face — 
As grey as wool is grey — 
Ana the east iii nis green eye, 
bo wild ana far away. 

Does ne see Magn-meala ? 

Is nis breatn human oreath ? 

Are his thoughts of the hidden thmj 

Untouched by time and death ? 

Hanging there by the half-door, 
Dangling his devil s foot. 
Stock-still on the threshold. 
As if ke had taken root ! 



82 



/ See all Love in 
Lowly Things 

I see all love in lowly things. 
No less tkan m tke lusts of kings ; 
All beauty, skat)e and comeliness. 
All valour, strengtk and gentleness. 
All genius, wit and kolmess. 

Out of corruf)tion comes tke flow^er, 
Tke corn is kindrea witk tke clay ; 
Tke t)lougk-kand is a kand of f)ower. 
Nobler tkan gold, brigkter tkan day. 

Tken let tke le{)er lift kis kead, 
Tke crit){)lc dance, tke caf)tive sing, 
Tke beggar reaf) and eat kis bread — 
He is no baser tkan a king ! 



83 



' Tis Pretty tae be 
in Baik-Liosan 

Tis pretty tae te m Baile-liosan, 
lis f)retty tae be m green Magh-luan ; 
Tis prettier tae be in Newtownbreaa, 
Beeking under tke eaves m June. 
Tne cummers are out wi tkeir knitting and 

s|)inning, 
Tke tkrusk sings irae kis crib on tke wa , 
Ana o er tke wkite road tke clackan caddies 
Play at tkeir marlies and goaling-ta . 



O, fair are tke fields o Baile-liosan, 
And fair are tke faes o green Magk-luan; 
But fairer tke flowers o Newtowntreda, 

vVet wi dew m tke eves o June. 

Tis J)leasant tae saunter tke clackan tkoro' 
Wken day sinks mellow o er DuLkais kill. 
And feel tkeir fragrance sae softly treatking 
Frac croft and causey and window-sill. 

84 



O. Lrave are tKe haugks o Baile-liosan, 
Ana oravG are the nalas o green Magn-luan; 
But traver tke Karnes o NewtownLreda, 

1 wined about wi the {)inKS o June. 
And just as tKe face is sae kindly witKouten, 
TKe Keart witKm is as guid as gold — 

vYi new fair ballants and merry music. 
And cracks cam down frae tKe days of old. 

Tis pretty tac Le in Baile-liosan, 
T IS t)retty tae te in green MagK-luan; 
lis prettier tae be in Newtownbreda, 

Beekmg under tKe eaves in June. 

TKe cummers are out wi tKeir knitting and 
sj)inning, 

TKe tKrusK sings frae Kis crib on tKe wa . 

And o er tKe wKite road tKe clacKan caddies 

Play at tKeir marlies and goaling-ba . 



85 



Ciarariy the Master of 
Horses and hands 

Ciaran, the master of horses ana lands. 

Once had no more than the horn on his hands. 

But Ciaran is rich now, and Ciaran is great. 
And rides with the air of a squire of estate, 

O Christ ! and to see the man uj) on the hack 
Of a thoroughbred stallion, a bay or a DlacK I 

There s not a horsetreeder from Banna to Laoi 
Can handle the snaffle so J)retty as he ! 

And Ciaran, for all. has the wit of a child, 
A heart just as soft, and an eye just as mild. 

No maker of ballads f)uts curse at his door : 
He handsels the singer, and harbours the ^oor. 

For Ciaran, the master of horsos and lands. 
Once had no more than the horn on his hand*. 

86 



Deep Ways and 
Dripping Boughs 

Dee^ ways ana arij){)ing boughs, 
Tke fog falling drearily ; 
Cowneras calling on their cows. 
Ana i crying w^earily. 
Wearily, wearily, out-a-aoor. 
Houseless, kcartkless, coatless, kindless. 
Poorest ox all the wanaering J)oor. 

I am tke teggar Ckrist — 

Christ that calmed tne castling nooa ! 

Cross and tkorn kave not sufficed 

To |)unisk me as you would ; 

But out-a-door in wind and rain. 

Houseless, keartless, coatless, kindless. 

You keef) me wandering m J)ain. 



87 



Nighty and I Travelling 

Nignt, ana I travelling. 

An oJ)en aoor Ly the waysiae. 

Throwing out a snart oi warm yellow light. 

A w^liiTi or |)eat-smoKe; 

A gleam or aeli on the dresser within; 

A woman s voice crooning, as if to a child. 

I |)ass on into tke darkness. 



88 



Night-piece 



Fill me. O stars. 

As with an olden tune. 

Look thro your cloudy bars, 

O summer moon; 

Look tnro , and drencK m silver ligkt 

My soul tkis niglit. 

O brier, encnanted dream 

\Ji sea and slcy, 

Of f)lougnland, meadow, stream. 

And twilight lotk to die. 

Of nre and dew — 

My soul IS one witk yovi! 



89 



At Morning Tide 



At morning tide, 

Uj)on tke kill of Sliat>K-na-mBan, 

I saw tke dead Ckrist glorified ! 

Ills body, like tke risen sun. 

Was all too brigkt to look viJ)on : 

Tke blue air burned 

About kim : m kis side 

And kands and feet tkere skone 

(Tkro stabs and gaskes gaf>ing wide) 

Tke golden glory of kis blood : 

Tke gilly stood 

Ut)on kis rigkt kand : at kis feet 

Tke fiskers, Peter, James and Jokn, 

Knelt worskiJ)f>ing 

Witk outstretcked arms, and eyes 

To keaven turned : 

And Maria, kis motker sweet, 

(Tke j^artner of kis mysteries). 

And Magdalen and Salome 

Came tkro tke doorway of tke day 

Bekmd kim, weef)ing. 

Tken a cloud came o er 
My senses, and I saw and keard no more ! 

90 



The May-Fire 



Come away, O Maire Ban, 
Come away, come away 
Wnere the heads of ceanahhan 
Tremtle m tke twiligkt air. 
Ana the rushes noa ana sway, 
A.na no other sound is heard 
But tne swaying of the rushes. 
And tne snovits irom Croc-an-air, 
And the singing of tke fidils. 
And the laughing of tke dancers 
Round about the yellow nre. 
And tke scream of tke water-bird. 



Come away, O life of me, 

O bone of me, O blood of me — 

Feilim kas a tale to tell; 

He would own kis love for tkee, 

Smitten nrst at Mura s well. 

Bitten at tke Lammas J)attern, 

91 



By tke tlessed Mura s well. 
He woulJ tell tkee, Maire Ban, 
How kis t)ulses leaj) and thrill 
Quicker tKan tke old men s nails. 
Singing out from yonder nill. 



Come away, O heart s desire. 
From the ruddy-featured circle. 
From the story-tclling circle. 
By tKe wreatking Bealtcin iire. 
Come away, come away, 
Come away, O Maire Ban, 
WKere tke heads of ceanahhan 
Tremble in tnc twilight air. 
And the voice of love is keard 
^VkisJ)ering o er tke tending ruskes 
Like a kidden, koly kird. 
Come away, O Maire Ban — 
Feilim 8 face is fairy-wan, 
Feilim s keart is sick and t)ale, 
Languiskmg for love of tkee. 

92 



/ Love the Din of 
Beating Drums 



I love tke dm of teatmg drums, 

Tne Dellowing |)if)e, the snrieKing nie : 

Tke discord and tke dissonance is my tlood, my 

Dreatk, my life ! 
Tke discord and tke dissonance is my life ! 

Away witk flutes and dancing lutes — 
Suck music likes but lovers ears : 
Give me tke beating tattledrum, 
Tke gunf)eal and tke ckeers ! 
Tke bellowing t>il>e and battledrum, 
Tke gunt)eal and tke ckeers ! 



93 



Three Colts Exercising in a 
Six-Acre 

Tkrec colts exercising in a six-acre, 

A killy sweej) of unfenced grass over tne road. 

WKat a J)icture tkey make against tKe skyline ! 
Necks stretcked, kocks moving royally, tails flying ; 
Farm-lads u^), and tkey croucking low on tkeir 
witkers. 

I kave a journey to go — 

A lawyer to see, and a J)aJ)er to sign in tke 

Tontine — 
But I slacken my j^acc to watcn tnem. 



94 



The Natural 

Lena us tne loan or a nalrj)enny, sir ! — 
Ana ne J)asse<l witK kis sf)len<licl nose in tne air. 

A gaunt, grey carcase of slfin and tones. 
As cold as tke river, as kard as tke stones. 

To kim tke kigkway was table and ted, 
Skift for tke newtorn and skeet for tke dead. 

Tke wind tkat klew from Beola crest 
Seemed nre to fetter kis wild unrest. 

Tke rain tkat teat on kis necK and face, 
A goad to quicken kim in kis J)ace. 

But sorrow a stef> ke ckanged, and kis J)rayer 
Was still — " Lend us tke loan of a kalfjbenny, 
sir ! 



95 



On the Top- Stone 



On tke tof)-stone. 

A nij)f)ing wind tlowing. 

Winter dusk closing m from tKe south Ards. 

Tlie moon rising, wkite and fantastic, over tnc locn 

and the town below. 
I take off my kat, salute ker. and descend into the 

darkness. 



96 



The TVomen at their Doors 



The babes were asleep in tkeir cradles, 
And tke day s drudge was done. 
And the women trougkt tkeir sut)f»ers out 
To eat them m tke sun. 

** To-nigkt I will set my needles, Ame, 
And Eogkan will kave stockings to wear : 
I st)un tke wool of tke korny ewe 
He Lougkt at tke kiring fair 

'* But wkat is tkat sound I kear, Natla ? — 
It IS like tke ckeering of men. 
God keef) our kind from tke devil s snare ! 
And tke women answered, "Amen ! 

Tken tke moon rose over tke valley. 
And tke ckeering died aw^ay. 
And tke women went witkm tkeir doors 
At tke moutk of tke summer day. 

97 



And no men came in at midnigkt. 

And no men came in at tKe dawn, 

And tne women keened ty tkeir asKy fires 

Till their faces were kaggard and wan. 

For they knew tkey Kad gone to tKe trysting 

vVitk J)ike and musketoon. 

To figkt for tkeir keartks and altars 

At tke rising of tke moon ! 



98 



My Little Dark Love 

My Ktttle dark love is a wineLerry, 
As swartn ana as sweet, I hola ; 
But as tlie dew on tke wineberry 
Her heart is a-cola. 

I would ker love were as warm as tne light 
Tkat lives m ker eye o£ grey. 
And tken my keart would know^ tke {>eace 
It dreams in tke kills away. 

I would ker love were as warm as tke ros« 
Tkat blows on ker ckeek of trown. 
And tken my sunless soul would laugk 
At tke woe tkat weigks it down. 

Ske dwells in tke valley, my little dark love, 
Wkere tke river sings to tke sea. 
And an ogkam-stone sits ky ker door. 
And nigk to it kazels tkrec. 

99 



And oft when the t)urj)le twiligkt comes. 
Ana the Llmd Lats flits m tke air, 
I wander down from tke quiet kills 
To seek my sweetkeart tkere. 

But ske comes never — ske loves not me. 
Nor ever will love, I kold ; 
For tko my keart is a J)eat of fire. 
Her keart is a-cold ! 



100 



/ Heard a Piper 
Piping 

I neard a {)ij)er t)if)ing 
Tke tlue kills among — 
And never did I Kcar 
So f)laintive a song. 

It seemed tut a t)art 
Of tke kill s melanckoly : 
No |)if)er living tkere 
Could ever Le jolly ! 

And still tke f)i^er |)if)ed 
Tke blue kills among, 
And all tke birds were quiet 
To listen to kis song. 



101 



A Sheepdog Barks on 
the Mountain 

A sneejxlog tarks on tKe mountain, 
The night is fallen cold ; 
The snef)nerd tlmks at kis fire. 
The sheef) are m the fold. 

The moon comes white and quiet 
Into the winter sky ; 
And nothing walks the valley 
To-night tut you and I. 



101 



The Clouds go By 
and By 

TKe clouds go ty and ty, 
Tkc keroj sings in tne tlue — 
And I lie dreaming, dreaming 
Ever of you. 

Tke stag on tkc kill is free. 
And tke wind is blowing sweet 
But I lie bound a t)ri6oner 
At your feet. 



102 



Davy Daw 



Woa ! are you there my Lonny mare ? 

Your whinny seems to say — 

** By Bealach forge and Creagach fair 

We'll gallof) hard to-day ! " 

You chamj) your snaffle all to foam. 

And fleeh your counter tright ; 

Bnt now we bid adieu to home 

Until the fall of night. 

Davy Daw, Davy Daw, with his early horn, 
His hunting-crof) and bag of corn — 
His heart s as merry as a mottle-thrush 
That sings all day in the hawthorn bush. 

Come hither. Bran of ancient seed. 

And lick your master s hand ; 

I swear no dog of t)urer breed 

Is found 111 all the land. 

Brave scion of Cuchullam s branch. 

Well do you, hound, uJ)hold 

The t)rowess and the courage staunch 

That marked your line of old. 

104 



Davy Daw, Davy Daw, my merry man, 
I love toast crat m a t>ewter can. 
Our tastes are like as lite can te — 
But a measure of ale in the can for me ! 



Tke wmJ IS low and scent is good. 

And Mada's on tke green : 

He kid kis kead m Cratla Wood 

Since early yestere en. 

You teat tke tusk from t)eej) of ligkt. 

And set tke wkins afire ; 

And now tke tory is in sigkt, 

You ve got your keart s desire. 

Davy Daw, Davy Daw^, for a crat well-trowned 
In tke smiling flood of a cruiscin drowned. 
Give me, sirree, my crat and ale. 
And tog or tatter, my keart won t fail ! 

Tke sun is out, and Davy s up. 
And kounds are on tke run ; 
It s kard ke'll earn kis stirru^-cuf) 
Before tke day is done ! 

105 



A jolly life we kuntcrs lead 

U|)on tke saddle kigK : 

We see no devil in tke Lead, 

And drain our noggins dry. 

Davy Daw, Davy Daw is a kuntsman told ; 
He s more to me tkan a tingdom s gold, 
A kind for dinner and a kare to suj) — 
O tkat s wkat I get wken Davy s u^ ! 

Tke fox IS fast upon tke kill. 

He s wary m tke dale ; 

But I will ride to Penny Mill 

Before I lose kis tail. 

1 kat brusk was born to make a ea|) 

For gallant Eoin Og ; 

And I will kave it, kang-or-ka^. 

As sure as I m a rogue, 

Davy Daw, Davy Daw, for a morning ckaso. 
vVitk an Irisk blood to make tke t>ace : 
He s last to ckeck and first to view. 
And kard to tke deatk ke leads kis queue. 

Day in we kunt tke sf)inney fox. 

Day out tke rat)f>aree ; 

//is cave 18 m tke broken rocks 

Above tke Correi-buidke. 

A skameful tking, tke ladies say. 

To kunt your fellow-man ; 

But follow kim till kard at bay 

It s just tke ladies can! 

106 



Davy Daw. Davy Daw, the trusk is won ! 
A good job, sir, our work is done. 
Whitefoot went lame tkis side o the mill, 
And I m as dry as an old lime-kiln. 

Red rogue, ne 11 kill nis goose no more : 
Close work it was, for tke ligKt is o er. 
Just close wort, sir, Lut tKe DuL s close to. 
With a can for me and a crat for you ! 

Black Sile of the Silver Rye 

As I rode down to Gartan fair 
I met a girl uf)on the way ; 
The winter night was on her hair. 
The summer dawn w^as in her eye. 

And O, she stef)J)ed with such a gait. 
And tore her round hlack head so high. 
And tossed it so, I knew her straight 
For Sile of the Silver Eye. 

** God save you, Sile, love, says I : 
** God save you kindly, murmured she — 
And love was welling in her eye 
As she drof)f)ed me the courtesy. 

The mountain hoys u|)on the road 
Were at themselves for jealousy 
\Vhen they saw Seamus win the nod 
From Sile of the Silver Eye. 

107 



We rode togetker to tke fair. 
We danced together on tne green ; 
And, faitk, tkey say a suJ)J)ler J)air 
Was nc er tefore a J)it)er seen. 

Black Sile of tke Silver Eye 
Has teen my wife for twenty year. 
And still ker sloe-black kead is kigk. 
And still ker eye is silver clear. 

And, God te t>raised, we kave a girl. 
As like ker as like well can be — 
Tke round black kead, tke roguisk curl, 
Tke soft tongue and tke silver eye. 

God bless tke old, God bless tke new. 
And send tkem stout posterity — 
Old Sile and young Silc, too — 
Botk *' Sile of tke Silver Eye ! 



108 



Dead Oakleaves 
Everywhere 

Dead oakleaves everywhere 
Under my feet. 
Filling the forest air 
\Vitli odours sweet. 

Acorns, tkree, four and five. 
Falling aj)ace. 
Thank God I am alive 
This day of grace ! 



109 



A Night Prayer 

Pray for me, Seacnnal, 

Pray for me, Mel : 

Save me from sm 

And tlie cold stone of hell ! 

Brigid and Ita 
And Eitkne tke Red, 
Sj)read out your mantles 
And cover my ted ! 

For rann and gost)el 
Have gone from my mind. 
And devils are walking 
Atroad in tke wind ! 



110 



/ am the Mountainy Singer 

I am tke mountainy singer. 

And I would sing of tke Ckrist 

Wko followed tke J)atks tkro' tke mountains 

To eat at tke J)eoJ)le s tryst. 

lie loved tke sun-dark J)eof)le 
As tke young man loves kis bride. 
And ke moved among tkeir tkatckes. 
And for tkem w^as crucined. 

And tke f)eof)le loved kim, also. 
More tkan tkeir kouses or lands. 
For tkey kad known kis t)ity 
And felt tke touck of kis kands. 

And tkey dreamed witk kim in tke mountains. 
And tkey walked witk kim on tke sea. 
And tkey J)rayed witk kim m tke garden. 
And bled witk kim on tke tree. 

Ill 



Not ever ty longing and dreaming 
May they come to nim now. 
But ty tke tkorns of sorrow 
Tkat bruised his kingly orow. 



112 



The Rainbow Spanning 
A Planet Shower 

The ramtow sf)anning a t)lanct snower. 
The sloe in terry, tke flax in flower. 

The scholar s satchel, the teggar s staff. 
The J)loughman s whistle, the tinker s laugh. 

The stranded hooker, the breaking wave. 
The sunrise gilding the cam of Medt. 

The strength of mountains, the swiftness of wind 
Blowing over the leagues tehmd. 

The hot lit)s sealing the sl)oken word. 
The song m gentle t)Iaces heard. 

The wildgoose trumj)eting in the Llue, 
The J)Ostcar stuck m a drift of snow. 

113 



The togslide moving, tKe seaward leaf), 
Tke cry, tke townland whelmea in sleej). 

Tke sock on tke anvil, tke tkreaa m tke loom, 
Tke Host on tke altar, tke ckild m tke womt. 

Tke waysiae murder, tke wkist)ered name, 
Tke kanging body, tke kidden skamc. 

And more — ii you but listen and look — 
In tkis, my elemental took ! 



114 



/ Will Go With My 
Father A-Ploughing 



I w^ill go with my father a-J)loughing 

To the green nela by tne sea. 

And the rooks and tke crows and the seagulls 

vVill come nocKing after me. 

I will sing to tne f)atient horses 

WitK tke lark m the white of the air. 

And my father will sing the J)lo\igh-song 

That Llesses the cleaving share. 



I will go with my father a-sowing 

To the red neld ty the sea. 

And the rooks and the gulls and the starlings 

Will come nocking after me. 

I will sing to the striding sowers 

With the finch on the greening sloe. 

And my father will sing the seed-song 

That only the wise men know. 

115 



I will go witK my fatkcr a-reat)iiig 

To tne brown field ty tke sea. 

And tne geese and tke crows and tke children 

Will come nocking after me. 

I will sing to tke tanfaced rcat)ers 

Witk tke wren m tke keat of tke sun. 

And my fatker will sing tke scytke-song 

Tkat joys for tke karvest done. 



116 



The Shining Spaces 
of the South 

Tne snming spaces of tke soutk, 
The circle ox tne year, the sea, 
The tlowmg rose, tke maiden s moutk, 
Tke love, tke kate, tke ecstasy, 
Tke golden wood, tke skadowed stream, 
Tke dew, tke ligkt, tke wind, tke rain, 
Tke man s desire, tke woman s dream, 
Tke Led embrace, tke ckilding J>ain, 
Tke sound of music keard afar, 
Tke treatkmg grass, tke broken sod, 
Tke sun, tke moon, tke twiligkt star — 
Do all f)roclaim tke mind of God. 
Tken wky skould I. wko am but clay, 
Tkink otkerwise, or answer nay f 



117 



Like a Tuft of 
Ceanabhan 

L/iKG a tuft of ceanabhan 
Blowing m tke wind 
Is my slender Ame Ban — 
^Vliite and soft and kind. 

Kind her heart is, but her clann s 
Cold as clay or stone. 
Would that I had herds and lands 
To take her for my own ! 



118 



The Herb-Leech 

I nave gathered luss 
At tke wane of tke moon, 
AnJ suJ)J)ed its saj) 
Witn a yewen sJ)Oon. 
I nave sat a speW 
By tne earn oi IVIedb, 
And smelt tne mould 
Of tke red queen s grave. 
I Kave dreamed a dearth 
In the darkened sun. 
And f^lt tke kand 
Of tke Evil One. 
I kave fatkomed war 
In tke comet s tail, 
And keard tke crying 
Of Gall and Gael. 
I kave seen tke st)ume 
On tke dead |)riest s lif)S, 
And tke *' koly nre 
On tke sj)ars of skijt)s ; 

119 



And the skootmg stars 

On Bartlielmy s NigKt, 

Blanching tke dark 

Witk gkostly ligkt ; 

And tke cort)se-ean<llG 

Of tke seer s dream, 

Bigger in girtk 

Tkan a weaver s beam ; 

And tke sky keartk-fairies 

About tke grate. 

Blowing tke turves 

Xo a w^kiter keat. 

All tkmgs on eartk 

To me are known. 

For I kave tke gilt 

Of tke Murrain Stone ! 



120 



Who Buys Land 

Who buys lana buys many stones, 
Wko tuys flesk Luys many tones ; 
vVno Luys eggs buys many snells, 
>Vko buys love buys notbing else. 

JLove IS a burr uf)on the floor. 
Love IS a tkief bekind tke door ; 
Wko loves leman for ker breatk 
May quenck kis fire anj cry for deatk ! 

Love IS a bridle, love is a load. 
Love IS a tkorn ut)on tke road ; 
Love IS tke fly tkat flits its kour. 
Love 16 tke skining venom-flower. 

Love IS a net, love is a snare. 
Love IS a bubble blown witk air ; 
Love starts kot, and waning cold. 
Is witkcred in tke grave s mould ! 

121 



The Poet Loosed 
A Winged Song 



The J)oet loosed a winged song 
Against tne nulk of England s wrong. 
Were J)oisoned words at kis command, 
Twould not avail for Ireland. 

The soldier lifted uj) a sword. 
And on tne hills in Lattle t)o\ired 
rlis life-blood like an ebbing sea — 
And still we t)ine for liberty. 

Tne friar sfjoke kis titter kof)e. 
And danced viJ)on tke gallows roJ)e. 
Were ne to dance tkat dance again 
A nundred times, twould Le in vain. 

122 



Cnrist save us ! Only tnou canst save ! 
The nation staggers to the grave. 
Can genius, valour, faitk te given. 
Ana win no recomJ)ense of keaven f 

No, Cnrist ! ty Ireland s martyr s, no ! 
Xwas not for this we suffered so. 
Die, die again on Calvary tree. 
If needs te, Ckrist, to set us free ! 
To set us free I 



123 



Sic Transit 

I lit my tallow 

An Kour ago. 

And now it is turning 

Dark and low. 

TKe glimmer lengthens 
And turns atout. 
Sinks in the sconce — 
Tlien flickers out ! 



124 



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